Q and A

Question

Why am I negative if my partner is positive?

3 September 2016. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed, Sero different couples.

About a month I had unprotected sex with my partner, about few days later we went for testing, when she was tested she was positive while i was tested negative. Now I’m scared, what does this mean?

Answer

Answer: Muirgen Stack

Hi there,

It is very common for someone to still be negative even if they have not been using condoms with someone who is HIV positive. HIV is quite a difficult virus to catch, so this is also related to risk and luck.

Please see the full answer here as it has been asked before.

Hopefully you can support your partner with her recent diagnosis Also, if she starts treatment and achieves an undetectable viral load, condoms are only needed to prevent STIs and pregnancy.

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

4 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley •

    Hi Nomawesile,

    Though a CD4 of 600 is high, the World Health Organisation recommend that everyone who is living with HIV should be on medication. Therefore, if you’re ready to start meds, then now would be a good time.

    Its being on meds that will help your HIV.

    Because you’re thinking about treatment you might find our, Introduction to ART” guide helpful.

    http://i-base.info/guides/starting

  2. nomawesile •

    I’ve lived with the HIV virus for 5yrs. I’m not yet on treatment. My CD4 count 600. I’m afraid I could get sick.

  3. Simon Collins •

    Hi Sani – the best way to check drug interactions is to use this website:
    http://www.hiv-druginteractions.org
    There are some potential interactions with HIV meds – but you didn’t say which combination you are taking.
    For example, there is a caution of tramadol with efavirenz.
    http://www.hiv-druginteractions.org/downloads/ajd45jg-4er5-67oy-ur43-009ert.pdf?interaction_ids%5B%5D=67004&interaction_ids%5B%5D=75719&interaction_ids%5B%5D=76087&interaction_ids%5B%5D=69152&interaction_ids%5B%5D=68813&interaction_ids%5B%5D=69613
    This shows that your HIV meds will be okay (if you are taking efavirenz) but that the pain medicine tramadol might be reduced a little. There is no need to adjust the dose unless the pain relief is not working so well.

  4. sani •

    if am on HIV drugs and at the same time am taking hard drugs like tramadol 225mg is there any side effect and what will it cause on me.